Hi, JustLiz, Welcome to Bransforums. Self-publishing has reputation issues but is not for lazy writers. Self-publishing effectively is far more demanding than traditional publishing. Publishers do a lot of the production work that self-publishers do that traditionally published writers don't want to...

The only way a writer or publisher can have total peace of mind from litigation about using anyone else's intellectual property is to ask and receive express permission for the publication use. Without express permission, the best practice is to seek expert legal advice, However, iintellectual prope...

I intend to make a few research trips to local bookstores, but I thought I would ask the studied minds of this forum the following: What genre is "Five People You Meet in Heaven" by Mitch Albom? What genre is "This Present Darkness" by Frank Peretti? What genre is "The Master and Margarita" by Mikh...

Polymath, Doesn't it help to find an agent with a highly polished manuscript? I would think a prospective agent would toss a manuscript with a great plot and so-so writing. Your thoughts? Yes, a highly polished manuscript helps. Nothing like frequent style, craft, voice, and appeal hiccups to disru...

Developmental editing and screening practices are two different processes. Developmental editing does indeed work on development of a work. Screening looks glancingly only in so far as a work speaks to a screener in very short order, sometimes as few as five words. Most screeners claim they will giv...

I think an area where our dissents lies is in how much deliberate effort any given writer makes to polish writing. I've studied many published writers: their lives, their processes, their stated methods. One thing I've found is their claims do not always match up with their realities. They make more...

Critiquers, editors, and readers will find fault as much if not more than a writer. Writing growth develops from effort. Time and effort spent seeking out parts and parcels that don't work builds skills, until stronger and clearer writing becomes second nature. Taking the time and making the effort ...

Hillsy, I've been unable to write or read for pleasure. It was a time a few years back of misery, the writing and reading passions and companions of my life turned to fireplace ashes. I worked through it and came out the other side appreciably a better writer and reader. Writing doldrums are a phase...

You've poured your soul onto the page, written a monumental manuscript masterpiece, and followed all the advices and suggestions and forms that you know and anyone and everyone has advised you you need to do. So what the everloving heck and libel is the reason you get anonymous form rejections from ...

Writing downhill without brakes on a slow board? Bransforums not fulfilling a daily writing how-to or artful method or expression curiosity? Ask questions! Rant about how tough writing, publication, the publishing marketplace and culture are. Or rave about their merits. Self-publishing questions and...

Quill addressed your question directly. Beyond timing, a mountain of marketing practices also are worth consideration. Marketing is a top-level practice that falls within four corners: packaging, advertising, promotion, and publicity. Take release timing, for example, some of each packaging, adverti...

Philabuster, I am a freelance editor and have been for fourteen years, have a master's in English and an editing and publishing certificate earned along with my BFA in English, all writing concentration coursework. Do you intend to submit your manuscript for traditional publishing? If so, then hirin...